Sunbeds ‘six times as dangerous’ as midday Mediterranean sun

Nine out of ten sunbeds put users at risk of skin cancer by breaching safety rules, a study shows.

The average sunbed has a cancer-causing risk 2.3 times greater than the midday Mediterranean sun, with some as much as six times higher, researchers discovered.

One of the study’s authors, consultant clinical scientist Prof Harry Moseley, said: ‘This situation is unacceptable and stricter control measures must be put in place.’

Levels of skin cancer-causing ultraviolet exceeded safe limits in 89 per cent of the 402 beds tested by Prof Moseley’s team from the University of Dundee.

The British Association of Dermatologists said new high power units, both in stand-up booths and lie-down sunbeds, were to blame for the dangerous emissions.

Sunbeds are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ and fall within their highest cancer risk category.

However, Gary Lipman, chairman of The Sunbed Association, said: ‘Sunbed users should check with their salon that the sunbed is 0.3 compliant and that means its UV emission levels are guaranteed to be no higher than the midday Mediterranean sun.

‘There has never been a safer time to use a sunbed.’

The association has been working with its members, non-members and local authorities to inform them about the change in UV emission levels and ensure compliance with EU law, Mr Lipman added.